2:1  Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander,

2:2  like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,

2:3  if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

2:4  And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,

2:5  you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

2:6  For {this} is contained in Scripture: "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER {stone,} AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED."

2:7  This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, "THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER {stone,}"

2:8  and, "A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this {doom} they were also appointed."

2:9  But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR {God's} OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

2:10  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

2:11  Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.

2:12  Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe {them,} glorify God in the day of visitation.

2:13  Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority,

2:14  or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right.

2:15  For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.

2:16  {Act} as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but {use it} as bondslaves of God.

2:17  Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.

2:18  Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.

2:19  For this {finds} favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly.

2:20  For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer {for it} you patiently endure it, this {finds} favor with God.

2:21  For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

2:22  WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH;

2:23  and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting {Himself} to Him who judges righteously;

2:24  and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

2:25  For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.